We Filipinos love to shop! It is not because we love to acquire more things, but rather it is the experience of mingling with various vendors and shoppers, haggling for prices, and finding great pieces that excites us. And to match this favorite hobby of ours, the rise of more super malls all over the country with each passing year becomes a usual but exciting scene.
In the recent years, however, a new trend is infiltrating the shopping field much to our delight. And that is the “Weekend Markets,” which are weekly events that have won the hearts of many shoppers for their diverse offerings, unique finds, and care-free actual market setting that we don’t usually experience in malls.
This week, we asked you dear shoppers about your favorite weekend markets and the results are in. Check our list and see if there are markets near you that made it to our top 10.
10. Greenhills Sunday Market
La Salle St., corner Connecticut St., Northeast Greenhills, San Juan City
Sundays, 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Images: Greenhills Shopping Center Facebook Page (L); Jose Frederico Dy (R)
The first to make it on our list is Greenhills Sunday Market otherwise known as Northeast Greenhills Market to some. It is located along the streets of Connecticut in San Juan and is famous in the neighborhood for its fresh produce.
The market is quite small with only two aisles and very few benches to sit on, but that is because the place is more of an actual market rather than a tambayan or hangout place. The first aisle serves the usual market finds like fresh seafood and vegetables while the other is reserved for cooked food and other novelty finds. The market’s original purpose is to serve the needs of the neighborhood, but more and more people flock the stalls overtime because of the diverse goods available there.
9. Legazpi Sunday Market
V.A. Rufino St. cor. Legazpi St., Legazpi Village, Makati City
Sundays, 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Some of the awesome finds in Legazpi Sunday Market (Image: HK Chong [L])
On our ninth spot is the well-known Legazpi Sunday Market. Unbeknownst to some, Legazpi Sunday Market has been active for over two decades already that started as Mara’s Organic Market (MOM) operated by Mara Pardo de Tavera and some of her friends. Originally located in Greenbelt 1, the market moved a couple of times to other locations before finally settling at Baranggay San Lorenzo. It has been called Legazpi Sunday Market since 2005.
Today, the popular Sunday market is known for its unique gastronomic offerings from classic Filipino delicacies to authentic foreign cuisines like Moroccan, Indian, Indonesian, Thai, and Greek food. People also visit the place because of the wide offering of local products like leather bags, pouches, and even accessories.
8. One Oasis Weekend Market
Oasis Hub Parking, One Oasis Ortigas Filinvest, Ortigas Extension, Pasig City
Friday and Saturday, 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM
One Oasis Weekend Market has become a favorite after-office relaxation to many yuppies. (Image: The Apple Treat Facebook Page [L]; MC All Natural & Handmaded Skin Care Facebook Page [R])
Another great weekend market inside the heart of the metro is One Oasis Weekend Market. The scene is relatively new and hasn’t gained much popularity yet, but people are drawn to the place because of the great food and the live band performing there.
Set up inside the parking hub of the One Oasis condominium, both residents and nearby professionals visit the place to have some after-office relaxation. Albeit the small area of the venue, people frequent the street foods offered like the usual isaw and pork barbeque paired with a cold bottle of beer. Young professionals made the small weekend market their new tambayan after a long day of work, because with great street food and music what more can you ask for?
7. Sidcor Sunday Market
Eton Centris Walk Parking Lot, EDSA, Quezon City
Sundays, 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Voter’s comment:
“A happy place for northerners who love weekend markets! So many wonderful things for the home to find here” - Belle
A wide range of local product selections can be found in this market (Image: Sidcor Sunday Market Facebook Page)
People from the South may always brag about their two popular weekend markets (Legazpi and Salcedo Weekend Market), but people from the North have something to be proud of too and that is Sidcor Sunday Market. Originally located inside the premises of Lung Center of the Philippines, it can now be found every Sunday at Eton Centris in Quezon Avenue, offering a wide variety of products that will wow any shopper.
Shoppers fell in love with Sidcor’s wide selection of items with over 300 stalls selling their own products every week. The market is known for selling organic vegetables and fruits, with some of them even coming from as far as Batangas, and other homemade food and pastries. Other cool finds in Sidcor include flower pots, fresh seafood, Filipino delicacies like sugar cane juice and kakanin, home décor, and various recycled products. Look a little further and you can find tiangge items too like clothes and accessories for everyday use.
6. Pasig Mega Market
Market Ave. cor. Caruncho Ave., Pasig City
Voter’s comment:
“A good place to go because all products can easily find here.” - Rizza Garingo
A popular go-to market of the locals in Pasig is the Pasig Mega Market. (Image: Jonathan Geronimo De Guzman [L]; D Label Facebook Page [R])
Although not really a weekend market as it is always open every day of the week, Pasig City Mega Market also serves as a nice weekend market destination for locals of the City of Pasig. Known to the neighborhood as Mutya ng Pasig Public Market, the establishment has become a popular landmark overtime with the Revolving Tower beside it.
Today, with the efforts of the local government, Pasig is becoming a greener city and Pasig City Mega Market is now part of the Pasig Civic Center. Along with the improvements and the accessibility, locals enjoy the classic wet and dry market where you can find your daily supply of food. People also frequent the market because of the huge tiangge (bazaar) inside it where you can haggle to your heart’s content.
5. Negros Weekend Market
Magsaysay Ave, Bacolod, Negros Occidental
Saturdays and Sundays, 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Voter’s comment:
“Organic.” - Butch
Fruits and seafood sold at Negros Weekend Market
On the fifth spot hails all the way from Bacolod and that is Negros Weekend Market. The creators of Negros Weekend Market got its inspiration from the popular weekend markets in Manila with the goal of bringing the same experience to its farmers and locals alike. The market offers organic produce and local products that is not usually found in pasalubong centers.
Negros Weekend Market today helps its local farmers and entrepreneurs by giving them a comfortable place to sell their products that can easily be found by the customers. The space is divided in various zones so you can easily find the products that you want and need, and some of them can be great pasalubong if you’re on your way home. Negros Weekend Market has a producer’s area, an agricultural supplier’s area, a wellness area, a food court and dining area, a retail area, and fresh products area.
4. Greenfield Weekend Market
Greenfield District Central Park, EDSA cor. Shaw Boulevard along Mayflower St.
Saturdays, 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM
People enjoy the cozy picnic set up at Greenfield Weekend Market. (Image: Greenfield Weekend Market Facebook Page)
Set at the heart of the Greenfield district, this weekend market occupies a wide lot inside an urban jungle. Greenfield Weekend Market became a favorite among the workers around the area because with just a few steps outside their offices, they are immediately treated with great food, great ambience, and some music too.
Greenfield Weekend Market is not only a place for shoppers in search of unique food and novelty items. People also visit the open field to relax while they listen to live bands featured every weekend. Items available in the area include art pieces, paintings, second-hand books, display items for the home, and artisanal foods. Some families also love the picnic vibe of the place where they can relax on the grounds after buying some snacks from the concessionaires.
3. Salcedo Saturday Market**
Jaime C. Velasquez Park, Tordesillas St., Salcedo Village, Makati City
Saturdays, 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Voters’ comments:
“More shops and international foods with celebrity as a salesperson... ;)” - Maricel Ong
“Great finds! Great selection! Great food choices ... the best part, it’s just at the back of my office!!!” - DC Gonzales
Locally made products available at Salcedo Saturday Market (Image: Bartek Wasiewski [L])
On third place on our top three is the famous Salcedo Saturday Market in Makati. For over a decade now, the market has become not just a weekend leisure activity destination but a tourist attraction because of the wide variety of products they offer. Even non-Makati residents visit the place just to do some food crawl around the area. People also enjoy the ambience of the place because Salcedo Saturday Market is literally set up in a park. Overtime, foreigners who live around the area or even short-term vacationers also visit the place to purchase products that they can take back home.
Just like any weekend market, the food selections in Salcedo extend from the usual finger and street foods to international cuisines and hard-to-find viands that we Filipinos love. These include homemade dips, spreads and sauces, pastries, and even sausages and the favorite ulam of Pinoys. Novelty products are also in abundance in the area, from bags to baskets, plants, and even home products.
2. Taytay Tiangge
Don Hilario Ave., CME Comp. Taytay, Rizal
Tiangge near McDonalds: Mondays to Sundays 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Tiangge inside CME compound: Tuesdays & Fridays 3:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Voters’ comments:
“The place is near and the price is cheap but the products are good.” - Rizza Eloisa Marie Dy
“Because they offer trendy clothes, and you'll have many choices” - Hayah
People flock to Taytay Tiangge for its abundant garments and fabric/textile products (Image: Taytay Tiangge Facebook Page)
On second place in our Top 10 comes all the way from the province of Rizal and that is Taytay Tiangge. This tiangge is not really a weekend market, but people from all over the metro visit the place because of the affordability of the garments sold in the place. Some say that its goods are even cheaper than those in Divisoria.
Known as the “Garments Capital of the Philippines” to some, Taytay Tiangge offers ready-to-wear (RTW) clothes from women’s blouses to shirts and shorts, and products that you can use inside your home like pillow casings and fabrics. People visit as early as the crack of dawn to set their hands on the best selections before bulk buyers purchase everything the sellers have on hand. Frequenters suggest that the best day to visit Taytay Tiangge is Tuesdays and Fridays so you can get their newest stocks.
1. Divisoria Market
Claro M. Recto Ave., Manila
Voters’ comments:
“Mura bilihin” - Mhielah
“Good quality of products and cheap price” - Regime E. Lesmoras
“You can find almost everything there- food, clothes, supplies” - Bea Aldeguer
“Mura na bilihin kumpleto pa.” - Skyfall
“Getting your money's worth! #hagglepamore!” - Sol
Mountains of shoes and other souvenir items at Divisoria
Divisoria Market claims the top spot for the Best Weekend Market in our country. We all know that Divisoria is not really a weekend market, but every Filipino who loves to shop makes Divisoria their first choice whenever they have free time.
Filipinos love the affordability and the extensive choices that can be found in Divisoria. People flock Divisoria because they know that their small peso can go a long way especially when they buy in bulk. From everyday clothes to infant wear and even wedding gowns, selections in Divisoria are countless! Of course a precaution is always needed because Divisoria has a reputation especially for selling fake items, but if you’re a smart buyer, you’ll enjoy this shopping haven, no matter if it’s a weekend or a weekday.
Results are based on the My Recommended Best Weekend Market survey posted at the home page of ShoppersGuide.com.ph from November 21 to November 28, 2016.